Apparatus for controlling sheet feed-out from an automatic sheet feeder into a receiving tray

Abstract

An apparatus for sheet feed-out control is provided on an automatic sheet feeder used in conjunction with scanners, fax machines, printers, copiers, and the like. The apparatus comprises a feed-in roller set for feeding the sheet into a scanning position where a scanning process is performed and a feed-out roller set for pulling the sheet away from the scanning position and delivering the sheet onto a receiving tray. A pivotal pressing member is pivotally affixed proximate to the feed-out rollers. The pivotal pressing member is pivotally turned by the sheet as the sheet is being fed out of the feed-out rollers. As the sheet is entirely fed out of the feed-out roller set, the pivotal pressing member presses down against the tail edge of the sheet, thus flipping the sheet off the feed-out roller set. Since the sheet can be placed flat on the receiving tray right after it is entirely fed out of the feed-out roller set, a stack of sheets after being scanned can be piled up neatly on the receiving tray. Further, since the feed-out roller set and the feed-in roller set can be made according to the same specification, manufacture cost is significantly reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for feed-out control of a sheet, comprising: (a) a set of feed-out rollers including at least a top roller and a bottom roller for feeding out the sheet, each of said rollers having a longitudinal dimension; and   (b) a pivotal pressing member having a pivoted end and a free end, said pivotal pressing member being pivotally affixed proximate to said feed-out rollers and above said bottom roller in a direction of gravity in such a way as to allow the free end of said pivotal pressing member to rest on said bottom roller of said feed-out roller set when the sheet is not being fed out of the feed-out roller set and to provide a pressure uniformly along the longitudinal dimension of said bottom roller; wherein     said pivotal pressing member comprises a substantially U-shaped bar, said U-shaped bar having two pivoted ends at opposite distal ends thereof, said pivoted ends being supported outside of the longitudinal dimension of said bottom roller,   said pivotal pressing member is pivotally turned by the sheet as the sheet is being fed out of said feed-out rollers, and   said pivotal pressing member presses down against the tail edge of the sheet and applies a uniform pressure as the sheet is entirely fed out of the feed-out roller set, thus causing an increased frictional force between the sheet and the bottom roller which allows the sheet to be pushed away by said bottom roller from said feed-out roller set.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus for feed-out control of a sheet, comprising: (a) a set of feed-out rollers including at least a top roller and a bottom roller for feeding out the sheet, each of said rollers having a longitudinal dimension; and   (b) a pivotal pressing member having a pivoted end and a free end, said pivotal pressing member being pivotally affixed proximate to said feed-out rollers and above said bottom roller in a direction of gravity in such a way as to allow the free end of said pivotal pressing member to rest on said bottom roller of said feed-out roller set when the sheet is not being fed out of the feed-out roller set and to provide a pressure uniformly along the longitudinal dimension of said bottom roller; wherein     said pivotal pressing member comprises a substantially U-shaped bar, said U-shaped bar member having two pivoted ends at opposite distal ends thereof, said U-shaped bar member having a flat portion adjacent said bottom roller in its longitudinal direction and outwardly bent portions toward said pivoted ends,   said pivotal pressing member is pivotally turned by the sheet as the sheet is being fed out of said feed-out rollers, and   said pivotal pressing member presses down against the tail edge of the sheet and applies a uniform pressure as the sheet is entirely fed out of the feed-out roller set, thus causing an increased frictional force between the sheet and the bottom roller which allows the sheet to be pushed away by said bottom roller from said feed-out roller set.